The council had been collected swiftly, the Seeker accepting part of the Mother Confessor's plan. She, however, was always at his side, despite his continue plea to hide. Their enemy was locked away in the dungeons before most of them could form a thought, the other laughing at the thought of her punishing them. The sun was gone, leaving the cells cold as the couple stood outside the locks, one staring out at the prisoners as though they were luckier than they imagined. Kahlan held her shoulders back and her head high, listening to their whispers and to her advantage, they sounded as loud as the anger radiating off of the man at her side.

They questioned each other, trying to find out who had revealed their plan. After a few moment, Kahlan reached for Richard's hand and squeezed, tightly. He looked over to her instantly, fear filling him as he saw her face.

"Your plan," she said in a normal voice, making sure the others would hear. "I was a fool to believe it wasn't necessary. Since I am unable to punish them as it should be, their lives are yours." Releasing his hand, she took a single step back and waited.

He didn't hesitate to draw his sword, knowing that she would not have said what she did lightly. She had a reason and he trusted her. Two were dead before the cell door was unlocked, the Sword of Truth ringing as it slid into their bodies through the bars. The council members screamed in horror before shouting for forgiveness, their words fell upon deaf ears. She gave no sign of hearing anything until the last body fell to the ground and stopped breathing.

"We must warn the men," she said as he returned to her side. "They are walking into a trap and in a few hours, we will be visited by the best assassins in all of the lands." She reached for his hand again, stopping him from hurrying them away. Her head lowered in sadness as she took a few steps forward. "I'm sorry it came to this," she said to the fallen bodies. "May the Spirits look upon you with their own justice."

"It was too easy," Richard stated as he and Dean burned the last of the food. "They didn't put up a fight and I know that I didn't know them very well, but wouldn't they have tried harder? If they wanted her dead, there are far easier and effective ways to do it. I don't- This can't be the end of it. It wasn't just her life they cared to destroy, I think they would have had some other plan."

"Such as?"

"I don't know, but they can't have thought it would be easy. They had to know that we wouldn't sit back and let them kill her."

"Maybe that's exactly what they thought. If they wanted to harm the Mother Confessor, they may have had help. We will never find them without her sight and magic. She must see it."

"We don't know when or if she will get her sight back." Turning, Richard began walking toward the kitchen door. "I'm going to find the key to the Rada'Han."

"May I suggest something?"

"What is it?"

"Take the Mother Confessor with you. She is safest at your side and she may have something to say to her before you kill her."

"I- Maybe this isn't the right thing to do. My being there will not loosen her tongue, it is sure to seal her mouth closed." Pulling on his hand, she tried to slow their pace and reason with him. "Richard, please. If you want her to do what you wish, do not allow her to see me. I will be safe around the corner of her cell."

"Wh-"

"I took her husband, the man she loved and- Richard, he's dead. She is never going to have him back again and I- I am the reason. She will be of no help to you if she sees me."

"Or maybe it's just what she needs to cooperate."

"If it was me in there," she said softly. "If I was there and someone told me you were dead, I would die with any information they wanted. Trust me on this, please."

Squeezing her hand, he nodded. "Alright, but if anyone comes near you-"

"I'll cry out defenseless," she joked surprisingly.

"Kahlan-"

"I'll make sure you get to me before they do."

"I don't like-"

"It's the only way this will work. She will give you what you want, we both know that she will not be able to resist your... Persuasion."

"Come on," he said softly, pulling her arm around his. "We need the key now."

The dungeon was colder than she remembered and the sound of his boots walking away was so loud she would have thought he was walking in place at her side. Her back jerked straight as Jessica screamed in the distance, Richard now doing what he needed to in order to learn where she hid the key. It was hard on him, she knew, but he wouldn't have it any other way. When it came to her, he would do anything. She only wished it had never come to this.

Time blurred together as the screaming continued and after what seemed to be eternity, it grew silent. Swallowing, she turned and waited. He would be beside her once again, any moment.

"She's buried it beneath the tree she married her husband." His hand found hers and he pulled her close, almost hugging her with his other arm as they took a few steps. His hand was wet, covered in the other woman's blood, making her cringe at the thought of what he may have done. Her thoughts came to a stop as he pulled her still. "There's someone outside."

"I don't hear anything," she whispered as she inched closer to him.

"I can see their shadow," he replied just as soft. "Hold onto the back of my shirt and no matter what happens, do not let go."

"This is silly," she told him, her hands instantly finding the back of his shirt and gripping the fabric tight. "I can stay in here-"

"I'm not letting you from my reach. Come on; stay close."

She couldn't help but smile at his last comment. He must've known that she would have stayed within her own arms reach of him, her hands gripping his shirt while she staggered behind. He knew her and in this moment she was grateful. The ringing of the Sword of Truth echoed as it was pulled free. One step, silence. Two steps, silence. Three steps - an earth shattering cry filled the air around them. She found it difficult to imagine the battle that went on around her. There seem to be more than one man attacking. Richard spun in every direction, grunting, growling; fighting. It was hard to remain behind him, his movements were so quick and swift that she feared she would lose hold and become lost.

Kahlan remained silent as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to envision his next move. For a few moments, they were able to move as one. She could feel his next movement somehow leaving his mind and falling to the tips of her fingers as she gripped his shirt. He was strong; fully capable of protecting her. Richard suddenly began to inch backward to put himself between her and the enemy. She couldn't tell how many there were left, but from the way he moved and panted, she knew they were in trouble.

"When I tell you to, I need you to grab your knife from my waistband. There are eleven of them left, do you hear me? I don't know how much longer I can- You are three steps in front of a tree; when I tell you to, step against it and kill anyone who tries to come near you."

"Richard," she said in a voice that was surprisingly calm. "It's alright." Tightening her hold on his shirt, she sighed. "I understand."

Turning his head, he hoped to meet her eyes. "I love you, Kahlan."

Giving a quick smile, she nodded. "I love you, too."

He gave the word and she moved quickly. Grabbing the dagger, she threw herself backward against the tree. Waiting, listening; praying. The first set of hands that touched her were removed almost as swift, the blood spattering upon her with triumph. She could hear Richard before her, fighting a battle she couldn't see and from the sounds, she was almost grateful. He was hurt, a fact that she knew not only from the way that he breathed, but the slowing of his footsteps. The sound of his sword no longer rang with full power, his strength fading and her heart breaking.

One body fell to the ground, then another and then another. She lost count rather quickly, but as long as they remain falling she didn't care. As long as another man went down Richard was still alive. The Seeker cried out in agony, a sound that echoed in her mind for what seemed to be a lifetime and, with her next breath, the world went silent.

She remained still, her back pushed against the bark of the tree so hard, it was painful. Kahlan turned her head, hoping to hear something, anything that would tell her what had happened and if the man she loved was still alive.

"Richard?" she whispered into the passing wind. When there was no reply, her jaw locked in fear and she leaned forward. Her hands felt over the ground, moving past the three men she had killed to move forward. After struggling over a few men, she called out his name again and waited. His cough made her jump, her speed quickening as she rushed in the direction the sound came from. He was laying on the ground and the instant her hands touched him, she pulled them back with a silent cry. He was bleeding, his chest covered in blood and when her fingers came to caress his face, she found that it, too, had been attacked by a sword. "Zedd!" She cried out frantically, doing her best to return her hands to his chest to stop any part of the bleeding she could. "Someone! Anyone!" she continued to shout, praying that someone would come to their aid.

"You-afe-ow," he told her though a cough that splattered blood upon her face.

Nodding, she tried to smile, needing him to see her happy if this was his final set of moments. "Because of you," she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. "I'm safe because of you." She wanted to thank him, but she was afraid that it would mean she was giving up and she refused to. "Someone is going to come help you," she added after a brief second, her head turning in the hopes of hearing someone. "Zedd!"

"Wa-Ame-Her."

Her shoulders fell forward in sadness, his words meaning that he believed it was over. "I don't know. What do you want to name her?" He remained silent, though she wasn't sure if it was because it took too much of his strength to speak. "I could name her after you," she offered, knowing that he would, at least, smile. "Amanda."

"Utaful."

Kahlan had to choke back her tears, her head turning away so he wouldn't see as she nodded. "You're going to be fine. Someone is coming and you're going to... Someone is going to help you."

His hand came to hers, his fingers wrapping around her wrist. "Old-oo"

It took all of her strength to keep from throwing herself onto him. Resting her head on his shoulder, she held herself close to him and closed her eyes to the slowing beat of his heart.

Kahlan hadn't slept in two days, her hand remaining in his as the wizard worked over him. The older man described the wounds to her in detail, knowing that she would want it know either way. The Seeker had a cut that went from the right side of his chin and across his face, just missing his left eye as it went over his forehead and into his hairline, the skin now scared. His chest and body, matched his face, cut up and battered, a sight she was almost glad she couldn't see. She listened to his breathing carefully, waiting for it to quicken or change to tell her when he awoke.

"Zedd says the worst is over," she told him as she leaned forward in her chair that sat beside the bed. She liked to be close to him, but when she layed beside him in the bed, she feared she would hurt him even more. "It started snowing today, I think you would have liked to see it. It was always my favorite thing about this place, the beauty of it when the snow began go cover everything. I wish we could have seen it together and maybe I could I- When you wake up, I'm going to show you my favorite place here. My sister is the only one I've shown it to, but I've always wanted you to see it." Closing her eyes, she lifted his hand and laid her forehead against it. "I don't know what to do, Richard. I- I need you to wake up, I need you to say something, anything. I feel like I may go mad if I don't hear your voice again. I keep expecting you to sit beside me and take me in your arms... Comfort me. I've never known anyone like you before. No one has ever- Having you near, it's more comforting than anything I've experienced."

"I know you can hear me and I- I wish I had something more to say, something that mattered. You must be bored," she told him quietly. "I know you're strong enough to survive this, Richard and I- I need you to know it, too." Releasing a heavy sigh, she shifted in her chair. "I don't know what to say to wake you up. You cannot give up, do you understand me? If you give up, I'm never going to forgive you. I'm- I can't do this without you, Richard. I can't- I don't want to do it without you." Letting go of his hand, she pushed her back against the inside of the chair and pulled her knees up to her chest. "I know that you meant what you said, about me being a good mother, but I- I'm so afraid. Richard, what am I to do if I wake up one morning and because you weren't here, she's exactly like him. Richard, she needs you just as much as I do, maybe even more. I can't imagine anyone else being a better father to her. No one can teach her the way you can, you- You'll give her part of your heart and she will never- With you around, she will be just like you and our people, Richard, they won't fear her the way they have everyone of us before." With a small smile, she licked her lips. "Maybe one day, they can look at us the way you do. It's getting late, you- You're already asleep. If you wake up... I'm right here."

"You need to get some sleep, dear one."

"I'm fine," Kahlan replied as the wizard stepped beside her chair. "I don't want to be a sleep when he wakes up."

"He'd wake you," he told her quickly. "Here, sit back, I'll take care of him for a minute."

Doing as he requested, she closed her eyes and took in a slow, deep breath. "How is he?"

"He's breathing deeper, that's a good sign."

"I noticed, but he didn't- He used to snore... I miss it."

The older man chuckled, "Give him time."

"Can I tell you something?"

Zedd froze at the tone of her voice, the whisper in fear of a secret being revealed. "What is it?"

"I keep thinking- I'm pregnant." She didn't move as he came closer, abandoning whatever he was doing with his grandson. "What- I'm... I remember waking up in that place and I felt her within me. I was pregnant before he raped me." With tears collecting in her eyes, she turned her head away, hoping to hide them in any way. "I don't know what happened or when I stopped feeling her, but I- Zedd, when I told him I was with child, he- He seemed happy about it and I... I wanted so badly to tell him that she was his, but she can't be, can she? If I didn't feel her for weeks, I- I know that my mind is probably playing tricks on me and that maybe I never felt her at all and maybe I just wanted to hold a piece of him with me. I don't know, I don't even know why I am telling you this."

"You were injured, Kahlan," he told her softly. "An unborn child is not always as strong as they need to be."

Nodding, she blinked out more tears. "Is it wrong to mourn someone I've never known?"

"No, but are you sure she is to be mourned?"

"I don't know. I feel the child within me and she will be seen soon, but I... I didn't feel her until Richard found me."

Laying his hand over hers, he smiled. "Maybe she sensed her father was near."

"And every day before that?"

"She rested to give you more strength."

Leaning forward, she licked her lips. "I wish I could believe that."

"What did Richard tell you?"

Shaking her head, she sighed. "He sees it all differently than I do, than I could. He- I told him that I wouldn't hold him to us, but he... Zedd, he sounded so excited and I know that I shouldn't have let him- I want that life he talks about, Zedd."

"And now you have a chance to have it."

"At what cost? Look at him, Zedd. I did this to him. I- I am the reason he is hurt."

"No."

She jumped at the sound of his voice and then froze, afraid of how much he had heard her say. She wanted to jump into his arms, but she couldn't see him, she couldn't know what he wanted.

The wizard stood quietly and leaned toward her. "He's reaching out for you." Taking hold of her arm, he pulled it forward until it rested in the Seeker's tight grasp.

When the couple was alone, Richard pulled on her hand. "Come here."

"I can't," she whispered painfully.

"I need you, Kahlan."

Shaking her head, she tried not to cry, not until she knew if it was from sadness or happiness. "You did fine without-"

"I could hear you," he interrupted. "I heard everything you said. Everything." Pulling on her hand again, he tried to hide the pain that shot through his chest at the action. "Please lay with me."

"I'll hurt you."

"Only if you stay over there."

Kahlan sighed and leaned forward, dropping to her knees and resting her arms on the bed beside him. "I'm sorry, Richard."

He coughed through his laugh, his finger tightening around hers. "This isn't your fault, Kahlan."

"It was me they wanted to kill."

"But they didn't." Closing his eyes, he turned his head toward the ceiling. "It's cold with you so far away." As he knew she would, she moved onto the bed and pressed herself against him, using herself as an extra blanket to help warm him. "Thank you," he whispered, hoping she wouldn't pull away. He felt her tears and tightened his hold on her, doing his best to keep the pain to himself. "Don't cry, Kahlan. This isn't your fault."

"Zedd said the scars will-"

"I don't care about the scars, Kahlan. I can live with those, but I- Kahlan, did they- Did I get them all?"

"No one else came after it went quiet. You killed them all. You saved me."

"I was afraid I would die before you were safe."

"I'm always safe with you. It's you who-"

"I'm safe, too. I'm still alive, aren't I? You protected me."

"No-"

Shifting beneath her, he tried to get his chest to touch hers. "How's Amanda?"

"Richard-"

"She's mine, Kahlan. No matter when you felt her." He was surprised his voice came out almost as clear as before. It shook, but just slightly and not enough to have her head jerk up from him in concern. "She is ours." After a moment of silence, he used most of his strength to roll onto his side and bring her hand to his face. He could feel it, but he needed to know. "How bad is it?"

Swallowing, she traced the scar across his face, doing her best to hide the pain it brought her. "It's healing."

"Kahlan-"

"It feels painful," she whispered before licking her lips for a distraction. "I don't know what it looks like, but I know it hurts, I can feel it."

"It feels better when you touch it." His words were whispered and his eyes closed to take in the softness of her fingers. "Comforting. It's like the way you held me in the clearing."

"You were awake?"

"I- I don't know, but I could feel my head in your lap and your fingers in my hair. I knew that I would be alright."

"You nearly died."

With a small smile on his lips, he watched her continue to run her fingers over the scar, her face showing every emotion she felt. "I held on for you."

"I was so afraid, but every moment I thought about- When I thought someone would come out of the trees for me, I knew that somehow you would jump up as though nothing had happened and kill them."

"You have a lot of faith in me."

"I know you too well, not to. You've never failed me and as long as I was near you, I was safe."

"How many were there?"

"Dean says you killed twenty-two of them."

"Was that all there was?" he questioned softly.

Nodding, she returned her head to his shoulder and sighed. "Would you have rather fought an entire army?"

"I'd fight the world to keep you safe."

"You already have," she told him through a whisper. "Time and time again."

He smiled, she knew he would and rubbed his hand over her arm. "Always."

"Do you want me to get Zedd? He may be able to help with any pain-"

"I'm fine," he said instantly. "It's not as painful with you here."

Grinning, she nudged closer. "Are you sure? You-"

"Will be fine until we wake up in the morning."

"It's just past morning."

"And you haven't slept in days," he told her. "We'll sleep through until morning."

"Richard-"

"If I need anything, I'll wake you."

"You'd better."

"Are you warm?" Richard asked as he poked at the fire in their bedroom.

"I am."

They remained in the confinement of their room for two days, Richard not yet able to move without pain. He continued to hold onto her, nearly at all times, but now that her Rada'Han was gone, she wouldn't allow him to do any of the things in his mind. He would hover over her with all of his strength, his lips touching hers as he moved his hands over her in a small attempt to show her how beautiful she was. Her stomach had grown with the child within, but it only made him more attracted to her. She glowed and smiled in a way he had always wished she would and he wished that she was able to see the way he looked at her.

"How do you feel?"

"Like I'm going to rip though this dress," she mumbled, her hands moving over her stomach.

With a grin, he walked over to her and knelt down, laying his own hands on her stomach. "If you wanted to remove it, I wouldn't complain." Blinking, she shifted on the edge of the bed and shook her head. He knew she didn't feel beautiful, though she was the kind of woman who never thought about things like that. "Would you like to sit beside the fire for a little while?"

"You don't have to sit in here, Richard. You can go-"

"I like it in here. You're here."

"You said that yesterday."

"It's still true today and it will be tomorrow. Kahlan, I know that you're frustrated and that you are afraid, but I-"

Bringing her hand to his face, she traced her thumb over the part of the scar that touched his chin. "If I leave this room, you may not walk away with a few scars."

"Kahlan-"

"I can't see. I'm useless out there and I am terrified that I won't know danger is coming and I will lose you. I can't go out there, but you can. You can-"

"No, I can't," he told her with the shake of his head. "I don't want people to see me like this."

"There's nothing-"

"Zedd looks at me the way I know they will. You don't."

"I can't see," she countered softly.

Smiling a small smile, he inched forward and brought his own hand to her cheek. "That doesn't matter. You look at me every time you touch me and I- You look at me the same way I look at you."

"Like you've done something wrong?"

"Like you love me more than you can say."

Nodding her head, she leaned forward until her forehead touched his. "I do."

"Me too."

Releasing a soft chuckle, she pushed into him. "You love yourself more than you can say."

"Of course," he teased. "But it does not compare to the way I feel about you."

"Mmhmm. I am going to need proof, Seeker."

The growl that escaped his throat made her body lunge against his and knock them to the floor, both letting out a soft laugh before their lips connected and they were lost in passion, his shirt pulled off before he could breathe.

Kahlan surrendered quicker than usual, her need matching her desire in a way that made it impossible to ignore. His mouth left hers, trailing down her neck to her chest, his current favorite place to explore since she couldn't allow him to do the same to her stomach. She held him to her, her fingers wrapped in his hair as she pushed into his lips with a moan. He didn't waste any time gaining access to her skin, ripping the front of her nightgown as though is was a held by no more than a single stitch. He watched her as his tongue snaked across her skin, her response holding more pleasure than he could imagine.

"Richard," she panted, her body aching for more. Her hand left his head and motioned to her dresser, telling him what she wanted.

The Rada'Han had been placed in the top drawer, held safe until this very moment, the same moment that had taken place the night before and the one before. This as the moment it always came to a stop, Richard not wanting her to place the metal around her neck once again. From the way she was breathing, he knew she was struggling with her magic, fighting its release and any moment she would push him from her and he would watch as it broke free.

It was beautiful, just as it had been before. It took all of his strength not to reach out for her, not to grab her hand or wrap his arms around her and hold her close, telling her that it would all be alright and that he was hers. She would kill herself before allowing him to live a moment with her magic in his veins and though he wished for it, he never acted. When her body settled on the floor, he closed the distance between them returned his lips to her neck, gently caressing the soft skin while his right hand moved over her stomach.

"I'm sorry, Richard."

Nudging his nose against her, he smiled. "I'm not." With another kiss, he brought himself back above her and gently pushed forward so that his chest touched hers. "I won't let you wear it," he whispered through a breath. "You know that."

Kahlan shook her head and brought her hands to his face. "We can't do this without it."

"We did before."

"And I nearly destroyed you," she countered within a moment. "I can't lose you, Richard."

"You won't." Letting out a heavy sigh, he moved back to her side. "You will never let go of your magic, Kahlan. You will never lose me."

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not and it's alright. Kahlan, we don't-"

"Don't say it," she told him. "We can't live like this, it will ruin everything."

"No it won't. Kahlan, we both know that this is enough and though we want more, we-"

"I need more," she replied shamefully hating herself for saying it out loud.

"I will give you anything you need."

"Not without becoming lost."

"I am never lost when I'm with you."

Lowering her hands, she turned her head away from him, knowing that it would bring him to move off of her and he did. "Part of me wishes that I could look past it the way you do," she said as she sat up and pulled the front of her night gown together in a failed attempt to hide herself from his eyes. "I can't keep myself from imagining what would happen to you. Everything that you are, the person who- Everything will be destroyed and replaced with a false love."

"Is it false if I loved you before your magic ran through me?"

His word choice made her body ache even more. He didn't say claimed or a word that would make someone believe that for a minute it was a terrible thing. To him, her magic was nothing more than a part of her that he wished to know and she didn't think it was possible to understand. They had grown up differently and she, along with every living thing in the Midlands, had been trained to fear the magic. It had been a piece of herself she thought she had made peace with, but being with him, being so close, she realized that she had never hated herself more. Richard, however, no matter what her magic showed him, he never ran away in fear, he came closer.

"It wouldn't be the same," she told him while struggling to come to her feet. "When someone has no choice but to love you- When a man is confessed, the way they feel about her... They are forced to love her and without end." She walked across the room slowly, he knew because she wasn't entirely sure of her way around. "There was no chance for him to love someone else, for him to have something more. I don't want to take away your choices, your thoughts and everything that makes you, you. I cannot destroy the man who thinks of others before himself and I- I cannot destroy the only person I have ever loved." Tears were falling down her cheeks in silence, her voice remaining strong as she turned her head toward his direction, the Seeker having remained still. "I may fear the moment you love someone else, but I will not destroy you to keep you with me."

"I will never love anyone else, Kahlan."

"Not if I take away your choice."

He smiled, though he knew there was nothing to be happy about. She would never agree with him, never believe that anyone could love her the way he did, but it only made him love her more. She wasn't able to see herself the way he did, the way he knew the world would if they looked past what they were taught. He had been with women before and out of each one he met, she was far above and not because of her standing. The woman before him was higher than the rest for everything about her, from her heart's caring for not only her people, but the world and her ability to look beyond the front to see more and face her fears. Kahlan was the woman who can have everything and yet, wants nothing. She cared more about others than herself and would die to protect them, even from herself. Before he knew it, he had walked to her side and gently took hold of her hand.

"I chose you. I did yesterday and again today, tomorrow will be no different." He was about to continue when he heard his own words echo back to him, almost explaining what she had meant. "My choice has been made and it's you."

"I'm afraid that someone else can make you happier then I can."

"Your love is hard to compete with," he said gently, his hand tightening on hers. "Being loved by someone you love is all that's needed. I'm yours."

Blinking out a set of tears, she wound herself in his arms and closed her eyes. He was warm and his body still ready for hers, a part of her couldn't imagine the strength he used to hold back when she needed him to. "And I'm yours."